1. Welcome to Politics Starter:
Thursday, 27 December 2018Thursday, 27 December 2018
Welcome to Politics
Starter:
Which is the odd one out? Speak with your partner and try and explain your answer.
Multiple answers: Malcolm X because he did not believe that legislation alone would lead to a lasting benefit; JFK because he was a politician and was potentially a part of the problem; JFK because he was a politician and therefore could/did do something about the issues of discrimination; etc. Potentially it’s a trick question as they were all assassinated because of their beliefs.
Education
Healthcare
Military
To understand the impact of the civil rights acts

2. Designing your own party
Think about what policies your party would have.
The areas most important might be…?
Education. The role of private providers.
Healthcare. The level of health insurance.
Military. How much to spend or the use of nuclear weapons.
Taxes and spending. High tax high spend or low tax low spend.
What other areas might parties focus on?

3. What are the left and right in politics?
In politics we sometimes describe different political views in terms of left and right wing, this refers to where these views fall on a political spectrum.
Political spectrum – A way of seeing differing political views in relation to one another. These can be mapped across one or more axes.
Please get them to write down the definition of political spectrum and copy the diagram.
LEFT WING
CENTRE
RIGHT WING
L/O: To examine what we mean by left and right in politics.

4. LEFT WING CENTRE RIGHT WING
Communism
Socialism
Liberalism
Conservatism
Fascism
LEFT WING
CENTRE
RIGHT WING
Left wing – Aim for greater equality in all areas including the economy. Those on the left argue that the state should have some control over the economy. Generally believe more in change.
Right wing - Argue that equality is either undesirable or impossible and believe in free market capitalism, privately owned property and little interference by the state in the economy. Generally believe in things staying the same.
L/O: To examine what we mean by left and right in politics.

5. Before we go any further . . .
You are living in confusing (but exciting times!)
Since the 2015 election all 5 main UK wide parties have changed leader:
Conservatives: David Cameron – Theresa May (he stepped down after losing the EU Referendum)
Labour: Ed Miliband – Jeremy Corbyn – new election on the 24th September between Corbyn and Smith (Miliband stepped down after the election, Corbyn won the leadership contest last September with lots of support from grassroots members, but because the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) ie the MPs, don’t like him, he is not in another contest with Owen Smith
Lib Dems: Nick Clegg – Tim Farron (Clegg stepped down after awful 2015 election results)
UKIP: Nigel Farage – new election 15th September (Farage tried to resign after the 2015 election, but the party didn’t let him, he has successfully now stepped down after success in the EU referendum)
Green Party: Natalie Bennet – Caroline Lucas and Jonathan Bartley (Bennett stepped won after her 2 year stint)

6. Left or right? Where do you think these people fall on the political spectrum?
Pupils can add these people the spectrum

7. CHALLENGE QUESTION: What is wrong with this?
Communism
Socialism
Liberalism
Conservatism
Fascism
LEFT WING
CENTRE
RIGHT WING
L/O: To examine what we mean by left and right in politics.

8. Horseshoe theory RIGHT WING LEFT WING CENTRE Communism Fascism
Socialism
Conservatism
LEFT WING
CENTRE
Horseshoe theory
Liberalism

9. Manifestos
A manifesto is a published verbal declaration of the intentions, motives, or views of the issuer, be it an individual, group, political party or government.
Essentially it is the party telling the voters what they will do if you vote for them. They cannot, legitimately, push through something that is not on their manifesto. i.e. The Tories have said that they will deliver Brexit, they cannot now rescind on that and push for another referendum.
You are going to use the main parties’ manifestos to record what the main parties stand for. e.g. If Labour get in power they will Nationalise a number of utilities including rail, post, water and the National Grid.

10. Your tasks 1
Research your chosen party: Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrats, from the information provided.
Use the work sheets to add the information. 2
Make a presentation to teach the rest of the class about your party. You may make a poster, leaflet, use the whiteboard, etc. 3 4
Add extra information from the manifestos.
L/O: To examine the areas of consensus and adversary politics in the UK

11. Possible essay question

12. To what extent do the major parties differ over policies and ideas?
27 December 2018
To what extent do the major parties differ over policies and ideas?
Plenary/Homework:
Research all of the non-core ideologies: Ecologism, Multi-culturalism, Anarchism, Feminism, and Nationalism. And then make a choice as to which one you would like to study next year.
Learning outcomes ALL: Define and describe consensus and adversary politics (D) MOST: Explain the elements of consensus and adversary politics in the UK currently (C-B) SOME: Evaluate how far the major parties in the UK currently differ over policies and ideas/how far the UK is currently experiencing consensus or adversary politics (B-A)
L/O: To examine the areas of consensus and adversary politics in the UK